Flight Safety Information
October 4, 2016 - No. 195
In This Issue
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan CFIT Accident (Alaska)
Underwater search operation for missing IAF AN-32 aircraft terminated
Kalstar pilots violated procedures prior to E195 overrun
Allegiant Air and the FAA Agree the Airline Is Dealing With Its Safety Issues
Achievements in Aviation Safety and Security highlighted on UAE Civil Aviation Day
Kenya: U.S Lauds Kenya On Air Safety but Still No Clearance for Direct Flights
LIAT pilots under investigation
China is worried its fighter pilots are dumb
Frontier Airlines making major hiring push for pilots, flight attendants
JetBlue Is Turning Supermarket Clerks and Baggage Handlers Into Pilots
Air Traffic Controllers And Pilots Can Now Communicate Electronically
Egyptian Who Hijacked Jet Is Ordered Deported From Cyprus
Cessna Delivers 5,000th Light Business Jet
Massive Airplane Engine to be given to MTSU by Southwest Airlines
CHINA PLANS A SPACE PLANE FOR TOURISTS
Dream Chaser: The Spacecraft That Will Transform Humanity's Access to Space
GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan CFIT Accident (Alaska)
Status:
Preliminary
Date:
Sunday 2 October 2016
Time:
ca 13:30
Type:
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operating for:
Ravn Connect
Leased from:
Hageland Aviation Services
Registration:
N208SD
C/n / msn:
208B-0491
First flight:
1995
Engines:
1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A
Crew:
Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:
Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Total:
Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Airplane damage:
Damaged beyond repair
Location:
19 km (11.9 mls) W of Togiak, AK ( United States of America)
Phase:
En route (ENR)
Nature:
Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:
Quinhagak Airport, AK (KWN/PAQH), United States of America
Destination airport:
Togiak Village Airport, AK (TOG/PATG), United States of America
Flightnumber:
3153
Narrative:
A Hageland Aviation Services Cessna 208 Caravan operating as Ravn Connect Flight #3153 from
Quinhagak with two crew and one passenger onboard impacted mountainous terrain 12 statute miles
northwest of its intended destination of Togiak. All three occupants died in the crash.
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20161002-0
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Underwater search operation for missing IAF AN-32 aircraft terminated
CHENNAI: The underwater search operation of Indian Air Force transport aircraft AN-32, that went missing
along with 29 crew on July 22, has been terminated.
Official sources told Express that the underwater search by National Institute of Ocean Technology was
suspended after the remotely operated Underwater vehicle, which has taken a long break for more
than two years suffered technical glitches.
"The ROV was used to conduct searches in three possible underwater locations after Geological Survey of
India vessel Samudra Ratnakar zeroed in on 15 possible locations after conducting survey using
multi-beam echo sounder and side scan sonar," said sources.
"The ROV did dip twice but during the third dip it developed tethering problems as such we could not
maneuver it properly," said sources.
The issue with ROV was that it is not an industrial version which could be used for commercial purpose. It
is basically for research and development purpose. It also had tethering issues.
"Even we did not have required spares for the ROV. The other reasons for terminating the underwater
search operations was due to rough weather as North east monsoon has set it besides Sagarnidhi has
been on sea for a long time," the sources said.
Sources said that Sagarnidhi would be busy with scientific schedules and would go back for search
operations once the ROV gets ready.
However, no details were given on when the search operation would resume.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2016/oct/03/underwater-search-operation-for-missing-iaf-an-
32-aircraft-terminated-1524725.html?pm=home
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Kalstar pilots violated procedures prior to E195 overrun
The crew of a Kalstar Aviation Embraer 195 failed to follow procedures during an unstable approach while
attempting to land at Kupang on 21 December 2015, resulting in the aircraft overrunning the runway.
Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) says in its final report into the accident of
the aircraft (registered PK-KDC) that the approach to Kupang, and its previous port of Ende, "exceeded
the requirements of the company's stabilised approach criteria that required the initiation of a go-around."
During the approach, which was being flown by the first officer, the crew failed to conduct a briefing or
read out the landing check-list. As the aircraft flew over the final approach point, it was 2,000ft above the
required altitude and subsequently was above the approach profile.
In an attempt to remedy the situation, the captain suggested lowering the aircraft's landing gear to
increase drag, which was a "non-standard configuration setting".
During the remainder of the approach, the enhanced ground proximity warning system issued 'high
speed', 'caution terrain' and 'sink rate' aural warnings for one minute until the aircraft touched down.
It did so in the middle of the runway at a speed of 200kts, around 62kts higher than the target speed.
During the roll-out, braking pressure was low and reverse thrust was deployed, but the aircraft overran
around 200m from the end of the runway.
None of the five crew or 125 passengers on-board were injured, however the aircraft was substantially
damaged. Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that the aircraft was subsequently written off as a result of the
accident.
The NTSC found that although both crew were qualified for the flight, there was a "steep authority
gradient" between the captain and first-officer, which resulted in the captain's suggestions not being
challenged.
"Despite both crewmembers being aware of the company requirements, they both continued the
unstabilised approaches, which eventually resulted in the over-run of the runway at Kupang," it adds.
It also noted that Kalstar did not provide effective oversight of its pilots, and as such some procedures had
been repeatedly neglected by crew.
In response, the operator briefed all its pilots on procedures for approach and landing, stabilised approach
criteria and responding to EGPWS alerts. It also restructured its operations department to include a
separate unit for pilot training, and developed flight operation quality assurance methods for monitoring
crew proficiency.
www.flightglobal.com
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Allegiant Air and the FAA Agree the Airline Is Dealing With Its Safety Issues
Whether it's the FAA or its own pilots, Allegiant has had trouble avoiding perception that it has safety
issues.
- Jason Clampet
Federal aviation officials are satisfied that Allegiant Air is taking steps to address problems that inspectors
found during a three-month review of the low-cost airline.
Allegiant met a Friday deadline for telling the Federal Aviation Administration how it would comply with
suggested improvements in training, maintenance and procedures. None of the shortcomings were
considered severe enough to warrant regulatory action against the airline.
"We were always a safe airline. This gives credence to our claim," Jude Bricker, Allegiant's chief operating
officer since January, said in an interview Friday.
The FAA does a lengthy review of all airlines every five years but moved up its inspection of Allegiant by
two years after an aborted takeoff, a plane that nearly ran out of fuel, and other events.
Among the weaknesses identified by inspectors: An inspector saw an instructor giving wrong advice to a
pilot training on a simulator to land after an engine failure, dispatchers didn't get required training about
fatigue, ground workers didn't follow procedure while planes pushed away from the gate, and there were
paperwork and training-material problems.
"They found these findings, they are minor in nature by the FAA's own classifications, and we're going to
not challenge them," Bricker said.
Allegiant declined to publicly release its response to the FAA. A spokesman for the FAA, Ian Gregor, said
the agency received Allegiant's response and found it sufficient.
"The carrier has already taken action to mitigate many of our findings," Gregor said, adding that the FAA
will keep working with Allegiant if there are issues that still need to be addressed.
"Clearly the FAA thinks everything is fine, and that concerns us from the reports we have seen over the
years," said Greg Unterseher, director of representation for Teamsters Local 1224, which represents
Allegiant pilots. The union has frequently accused the airline of cutting corners on maintenance and safety.
Bricker said the number of aborted takeoffs and flights that landed somewhere other than the planned
destination has been declining since the company announced a contract agreement with pilots in late June.
"Some of that is seasonal - we fly a lot less of a schedule in September," he said, "and I think some of it is
just that it's a little less tense out there and we are executing better."
Allegiant said safety-related incidents have dropped 55 percent this year compared with the same period
last year. Service reports to the FAA, one measure of maintenance and repair issues, are down 65 percent,
according to FAA records.
The airline is part of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co. Its shares rose $1.72 to close at $132.07. They
are down 21 percent in 2016.
https://skift.com/2016/10/01/allegiant-air-and-the-faa-agree-the-airline-is-dealing-with-its-safety-issues/
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Achievements in Aviation Safety and Security highlighted on UAE Civil Aviation Day
Every year, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has, with the support of the Federal Cabinet,
marked the 5 October as the UAE Civil Aviation Day.
This is the third year that the UAE celebrates the occasion with the aim of highlighting the country's rich
aviation history and legacy, current developments and innovation in the sector, as well as promoting the
safety and efficiency of air transport as a mode of travel. As a central trading hub between the East and
the West, and a bourgeoning global tourism and business destination, the UAE's transport legacy has
successfully been transported into the modern world.
At 4pm on 5 October in 1932 at Al Mahatta Airport in the Emirate of Sharjah, a British-owned Imperial
Airways flight arrived from Gwadar, Pakistan (located in India at the time) marking the first ground aircraft
landing in the UAE and the significance of the occasion. The Hanno aircraft, a four-propeller Handley Page
H.P.42 biplane, had four passengers as well as its British captain, Horsey, when it made its historical
landing in the UAE on its way to Bahrain.
Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy and chairman of GCAA, said: "The celebration of
this day reflects the concerted efforts by our aviation industry in the past decades resulting in the
remarkable progress and cutting-edge development we make use of today. The UAE's main objective is to
ensure the steady growth of the aviation sector while maintaining the highest standards of safety and
security, as well as fostering innovation which is deeply embedded in the core of the air transport industry
and is a key driving force of the sector worldwide. We will keep seeking excellence in everything we do and
set an international example to be admired and followed."
In 2015, the UAE was ranked highest in the world in compliance with international aviation safety
standards after intensive audit trough the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s Universal
Safety Oversight Audit Programme. The UAE scored a success rate of 98.86%, which is the highest rate in
history given by ICAO.
Al Mansoori added: "Scoring first place in the world in aviation safety comes as a result of GCAA's hard
work locally, regionally and internationally. Efforts and initiatives by the GCAA in deploying aviation safety
culture have had a fundamental impact in the improvement that we are witnessing in the country. Aviation
safety has always been our top priority parallel with exceptional service quality and assurance of growth
capability".
Similarly, the UAE attaches immense importance to civil aviation security and leaves no stone unturned to
ensure the safety and security of civil aviation operations. As a Contracting State of ICAO, the UAE has
played a vital role in the development of civil aviation security, at regional as well as international levels,
in order to safeguard civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference.
The UAE believes that the focus on research and innovation across the aviation sector worldwide not only
leads to more efficient aircraft technology and safe and secure operational practices, with associated
environmental benefits, but also helps build research capacity at universities and skills. As a consequence,
the UAE launched the "Aeronnovation Programme" aimed at stimulating innovation in the industry in June
2015. The Aeronnovation programme also includes a biennial award scheme aimed at incentivising
creativity and innovation within the industry for improvement in passenger experience, improvement in
safety standards and reduction of emissions.
The country's seven national airports continue to prosper in the global aviation industry and are growing
fast, moving up in the overall rankings and overtaking the top global hubs. Passenger numbers at Dubai
International (DXB) continued to rise in March with 7.2 million guests bringing Q12016 passenger traffic
numbers at DXB to 20,948,690, an increase of 6.8 per cent compared to the 19,606,324 that visited the
airport during the same period in 2015. In addition, Dubai World Central (DWC) is set to become the
world's largest airport with a capacity of 160 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo per year by
2020. On the other hand, more than six million passengers were welcomed at Abu Dhabi International
Airport in the first quarter of 2016.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, GCAA director general, said, "Home to two of the fastest growing
internationally acclaimed airlines, extensive development of aviation infrastructure and the plans to
develop the first-of-its-kind all-encompassing aviation hub city, places UAE in a unique position to create a
connected future. We are committed to deliver the vision of our leadership to make UAE the economic,
trade and tourism destination for more than two billion people by transitioning to a knowledge-based
economy."
The UAE has taken vital steps to ensure that the governance of air transport facilitates - both the
operations of UAE airlines and the airlines of its bilateral partners - continues to develop alongside the
growth of its air transport services. In this regard, the UAE made significant progress in 2015 undertaking
the final signature of 16 Air Services Agreements (ASAs), convening 48 bilateral ASA consultations and
signing 27 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and two Records of Discussion.
The UAE has also concluded agreements with 168 countries paving the way for its both airlines and the
airlines of its bilateral partners to expand their operations. Significantly, the UAE has 131 'open sky' or
fully liberal agreements in place allowing the UAE to maintain its position as the second country in the
world with the largest number of open skies agreements, the first country being the USA.
Laila Ali Bin Hareb Al Muhairi, GCAA assistant director general of strategy and international affairs, said:
"The UAE GCAA is driven to continue to conclude liberal agreements with countries worldwide, paving the
way for its both airlines and the airlines of its bilateral partners to expand their operations, as well as to
liberalise the flow of air traffic to and from partner countries and beyond."
Laila Ali Bin Hareb Al Muhairi, GCAA assistant director general of strategy and international affairs.
To mark the occasion, and to spread awareness to about the achievements in the aviation industry, GCCA
will host a number of activities for the general public including hot air balloon adventure rides, special
formation flights by several aircraft types from the Jazira Aviation club, as well as various competitions,
arts & crafts, and family activities on the Jazirah Aviation field in Ras Al Khaimah.
Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; chairman, Dubai Airports,
chairman and chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: "The UAE is today one of the world's leaders
in aviation, and we continue to maintain our edge, because we are fortunate enough to have visionary
leaders. Aviation in the UAE is recognised as a strategic economic driver, and a clear vision from our
leadership has laid the groundwork for the right infrastructure, systems, and investments in innovative
products and customer experiences required to build a leading global aviation hub. I am optimistic of the
prospects that lay ahead of us in the upcoming years as aviation continues to be a key economic sector
and driver in the UAE, leaving an enduring mark for the benefit of future generations."
Sheikh Khalid Issam Al Qassimi chairman of Sharjah Civil Aviation said: "The fifth of October marks our
pride and appreciation of the UAE's achievements in aviation since 1932. This success is the outcome of
collaborative efforts of various sectors and entities that work together to assert the UAE's leading position
in the world. This day is also a motivation for us to exert further efforts and keep up with the latest
advancements to ensure our leadership."
Mohammed A. Ahli, director general of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said: "The aviation industry in the
United Arab Emirates and its key performers, the airlines and airports, have reached greater heights and
continue to stride further. The aviation sector in the Emirate of Dubai is proud to be a partner in this
process through our contribution to the development of civil aviation in the UAE and globally for the
benefit of the travelling public and the peoples of the world, through providing efficient connectivity, safe
and secure air transport system and cooperation with the international organizations, such as, ICAO."
James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said: "Etihad Airways and its
partner airlines are proud to have played a key role in the emergence of the UAE as a centre for global
aviation. We remain committed to supporting the creation of world-class aviation infrastructure, and more
importantly, the development of a workforce of aviation professionals in the United Arab Emirates."
Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of Flydubai commented: "UAE Civil Aviation Day recognises the
success of the UAE and how it has established itself as a global aviation hub. Flydubai will continue to
support Dubai's economic development in creating free flows of trade and tourism."
Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: "The UAE's aviation sector has grown by leaps
and bounds over the last decade and is today acknowledged as one of the fastest growing aviation
industries in the world. The Civil Aviation Day celebrates the immense progress the country has made in
developing its aviation sector, as well as the people who made this happen. From the time Air Arabia burst
on to the scene as the region's first low-cost- carrier back in 2003, we have seen how the UAE aviation
sector has gone from strength to strength maintaining strong performance in an ever-changing
marketplace."
The UAE has also played a role in bringing together the key players in space activities and civil aviation. In
March 2016, the UAE hosted the ICAO and United Nations Office for Outer Space (UNOOSA) at an
international symposium on the challenges and opportunities in space activities and civil aviation.
Addressing the audience at the symposium, Al Mansoori highlighted the need for the industry to take into
account the public interest rather than focusing on pure profit and he called for a solid legislative and
regulatory framework to ensure the safety and security of the ever expanding space sector.
http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/achievements-in-aviation-safety-and-security-highlighted-on-uae-civil-
aviation-day.html
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Kenya: U.S Lauds Kenya On Air Safety but Still No Clearance for Direct Flights
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) Thursday praised Kenya's "significant progress" in ensuring
civil aviation safety but did not commit to approving direct flights between the two countries.
"The US Federal Aviation Administration and the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority have been in close
collaboration as Kenya has marched toward full compliance with international standards," a DOT
spokesperson said.
"They will remain in close touch and mutually determine next steps."
The official's comments came in response to a Nation query regarding Transport Cabinet Secretary James
Macharia's recent claim that Kenya has met all requirements for the start of direct flights between Nairobi
and the US.
Kenyan officials have repeatedly suggested during the past year that direct air links with the US would
soon be established. But Washington has not publicly committed to allowing airlines to fly that route.
Substantial gains for Kenyan business and the country's tourism industry are expected if passengers and
cargo can move more expeditiously to and from the US.
Financially troubled Kenya Airways would likely reap benefits if it becomes able to fly directly to US
destinations.
Direct-flights are not the same as non-stop flights.
A direct flight makes a scheduled stop at an intermediate airport between its point of origin and its final
destination. Passengers generally remain on the same plane, however, saving time spent in transit.
DELTA AIRLINES
Delta Air Lines came close in 2009 to inaugurating direct service between Atlanta and Nairobi, with a stop
in Dakar, Senegal.
US aviation officials, however, refused to clear the service one day prior to its scheduled start.
Specific reasons for the abrupt cancellation were not provided, with US authorities citing general concerns
regarding "security vulnerabilities in and around Nairobi."
Kenyan officials reacted angrily at the time to the last-minute US decision.
Moses Wetang'ula, who was serving as foreign minister in 2009, summoned then-US Ambassador Michael
Ranneberger to his office to express Kenya's displeasure.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201610010002.html
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LIAT pilots under investigation
The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCA) says it is investigating a matter involving two senior
LIAT pilots. The two are accused of operating an aircraft in contravention of their license agreement, which
places a barrier on the age of a pilot and a co-pilot in a single cock-pit.
ECCA says it cannot comment on the status of the investigation because of its sensitive nature. Chairman
of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) Carl Burke says since both men are members of
the association he would only comment after the probe ends.
Last week, the two pilots one over the age of sixty and the other over sixty-five were allegedly scheduled
to fly the same plane. The pilots' license appears to prohibit this.
If found culpable, the men who are senior both in age and rank could face dismissal.
LIAT acting CEO Julie Reifer-Jones could not be reached for comment.
http://antiguaobserver.com/liat-pilots-under-investigation/
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China is worried its fighter pilots are dumb
China has the third largest air force in the world and may surpass the United States within the next 15
years. But in an aerial shooting war with the U.S. Air Force, Beijing will need more than aircraft - also
fighter pilots with well-honed skills capable of facing off with some of the best jocks in the world.
Right now, Chinese pilots struggle. Underdeveloped tactics and training regimens which discourage
initiative - among other problems - means that, as a whole, China's top guns are less proficient than they
could be.
The People's Liberation Army Air Force is also well aware of this, and is changing the way it trains pilots,
according to a recent report by the RAND Corporation, a think tank with close ties to the U.S. Air Force.
These changes, over time, could do much to reduce the skill gap between the Chinese and American air
forces.
China's air force doesn't match the United States, because for most of recent history, it didn't need to.
The traumatic experience of World War II, when 14 million Chinese lost their lives in a Japanese invasion
and occupation, shaped Chinese strategy to favor large ground forces. For much of the Cold War, Beijing's
leaders viewed the risk of another invasion, particularly from the Soviet Union, as their number one
military threat.
To be sure, China has undertaken major military reforms since the 1980s aimed at extending presence
into the South and East China Seas, thereby forcing the naval and air forces of an opponent - namely the
United States - to operate from farther away. China is also shrinking its army but expanding its air force
and navy, and rethinking how to fight war on different terms.
A Chinese Su-27 Flanker | (U.S. Air Force/Courtesy War Is Boring)
But the PLA's highly centralized, top-down structure remains in place and stifles the skills of its fighter
jocks. Unrealistic plans and by-the-book training regimens don't translate well in combat, when those
plans can be blown away the moment they meet enemy contact.
Training pilots to adapt to changing conditions - and to make decisions on the spot - "remains new to
many pilots accustomed to having most, if not all, of their tactical maneuvers dictated to them by PLAAF
unit commanders in the control tower," the report stated.
Take, for instance, the most important aircraft in a fighter formation - the lead plane. Basically, the plane
in front, manned by an experienced pilot responsible for commanding the formation and (usually) leading
dogfights.
Chinese lead pilots often lack tactical skills, aerial maneuvers and changing flight plans without instructions
from the ground. To make matters worse, they often defer to "ground command and guidance personnel
during confrontations," the RAND report quoted the Chinese air force newspaper Kongjun Bao.
"As such, there were many unfavorable factors that come about during air combat [training]. For example,
ground commands often are not able to keep up with the complex and changeable air situation," Kongjun
Bao added.
"Pilots relied too much on the commands and guidance from the ground, which was not conducive to
enhancing the enthusiasm and initiative of airborne combatants."
The same problems crop up during mock attacks on ground targets. In one exercise, commanders tested
pilots by changing their targets on an "ad-hoc" basis, but the nervous aviators choked, flew too low and
missed.
Of course, the reason we know this is because China is deliberately pushing its pilots into unfamiliar
territory and, in PLAAF terminology, forcing them to "fight and win: in "actual combat conditions."
Details are few, but RAND notes that the Chinese air force is making its pilots develop their own flight
plans while giving them "full autonomy over their sorties, from starting their engines to changing
navigation routes and flying tactics in the air," RAND noted.
Beijing is even shuffling pilots between different air bases to mix up the terrain. During mock air battles,
commanders have restricted the amount of information shared between formations before they wage
simulated duels.
The PLAAF will even "frequently remove safety restrictions," the report added.
But even better pilots might not matter much, in the end. Beijing anticipates a potential conflict with the
United States to take place in the Western Pacific, where China enjoys a numerical advantage.
Over Taiwan, that advantage could be 3:1 just in aircraft, according to a separate RAND study published in
2008. The odds get even worse for the Pentagon if China can successfully knock out America's nearest air
bases, such as Kadena in Japan, with an onslaught of ballistic missiles.
Now fast forward to 2030, and combine those numbers with fighter pilots schooled for more than a decade
in dogfighting ... the right way.
From drones to AKs, high technology to low politics, War is Boring explores how and why we fight above,
on, and below an angry world. Sign up for its daily email update here or subscribe to its RSS Feed here.
http://theweek.com/articles/651532/china-worried-fighter-pilots-are-dumb
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Frontier Airlines making major hiring push for pilots, flight attendants
Frontier Airlines is going through a hiring spree, looking to bring more than 800 flight attendants by the
end of next year and launching three partnerships with smaller regional airlines to help recruit and then
hire their pilots once they reach a certain level of experience.
The moves come as the Denver-headquartered airline prepares to grow its fleet by more than 14 percent
next year, increasing its number of operating airplanes from 63 to 72 as it grows in more locations outside
its traditional home base. But it also comes as it works on labor issues in other arenas, including the so-
far-rocky implementation of a contract with a new ramp-services contractor and a protracted dispute over
pay with its existing pilots.
Those 800 new flight attendants will include 200 who will be based at Frontier's Denver crew base, which
remains its largest base of operations, with more than 70 daily departures from Denver International
Airport. They will represent nearly a 60 percent increase in employed flight attendants for the company,
spokesman Jim Faulkner said.
While some of the increased personnel needs come from normal attrition cycles and some from the boost
in fleet, an element of the hiring spree also relates to the new, larger planes that Frontier will be flying.
It's in the process of replacing its 138-seat Airbus A319s with 186-seat A320s and 230-seat A321 models.
While the A319s required only three flight attendants each, the A321s demand five per flight, Faulkner
noted.
The growth of the fleet is also a key reason why Frontier on Sept. 20 announced a partnership with Idaho-
based Empire Airlines that followed similar partnerships with regional fliers Great Lakes Airlines of
Wyoming and Silver Airlines of Florida. As part of the Frontier Career Pilot Program, Frontier will work with
its partners to recruit and interview new pilots. Then after those pilots advance to becoming captains, build
at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time, meet dependability metrics and receive letters of
recommendation, they are guaranteed to transition to Frontier as a first officer.
Those programs come not only as Frontier grows but as industry experts forecast that retirements in the
coming years will make highly qualified pilots much more in demand.
"This program and our partnerships with these highly regarded and respected regional airlines will become
an important element of Frontier's overall strategy to fulfill our pilot staffing needs in the future," said Jim
Nides, Frontier vice president of flight operations.
Frontier and parent company Indigo Partners LLC is negotiating a new contract with its pilots, who gave up
significant concessions in their last contract talks with former owner Republic Airways to keep the then-
teetering airline from shuttering. Now, however, Frontier is on pace to be profitable for a third straight
year, and pilots are so dissatisfied with the pace and substance of negotiations, an association leader told
the Denver Post, that they've asked the National Mediation Board to take control of the talks.
The NMB has not issued any decision on that request, Faulkner said on Monday.
Also, the airline continues to transition to a new ramp-services contractor, Simplicity, after having several
issues that led to the end of the contract with former contractor Swissport. Staffing issues during that
transition dropped Frontier into last place among the 12 national airlines in July for its on-time arrival
percentage.
Hiring for the flight-attendant positions will continue Tuesday with recruiting meet-and-greet events from
2 to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. at the NW Club at the National Western Complex. Job applicants must
have a high-school diploma or GED, must be at least 20 years of age, must have a valid passport and
must not have tattoos between their shoulders and fingers, on their neck or chest areas or behind their
ears.
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2016/10/03/frontier-making-major-hiring-push-for-pilots.html
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JetBlue Is Turning Supermarket Clerks and Baggage Handlers Into Pilots
Ground operations members unload baggage from a JetBlue aircraft on the tarmac at Long Beach Airport
in California. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg
No experience necessary as airline expands applicant pool
U.S. carriers look to fill labor pipeline as shortage looms
What do a supermarket clerk, an airline baggage handler and a heavy-equipment operator have in
common? They're among the first participants in JetBlue's new program to turn people with little or no
flight experience into pilots.
The initial six recruits begin the second phase of training Monday, after three weeks studying meteorology,
aerodynamics, aircraft systems and the like. They'll now spend about seven months in Arizona to begin
flight training at CAE Oxford Aviation Academy. If successful -- and if they can handle the $125,000 price
tag -- they should become first officers at JetBlue Airways Corp. in 2020.
U.S. carriers are seeking new ways to recruit as the industry faces a projected shortage of 15,000 aviators
by 2026, according to the University of North Dakota. JetBlue's Gateway Select program is the first of its
kind in the U.S., although similar efforts have been used in Europe and Asia. It is one of seven recruitment
programs at the New York-based airline.
'Raw Aptitude'
"I've been a pilot coming up on 30 years now, and I'm literally blown away by the enthusiasm and raw
aptitude these six individuals have," said David Freiwald, a JetBlue flight instructor.
Of the recruits, one had 100 hours of flight time as a private pilot, another had about 35 hours and the
rest had never flown a plane. The airline declined to make any students available for interviews.
JetBlue's pilots union doesn't support the program.
"We don't see a need for it," said Patrick Walsh, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association group at the
carrier. "There are thousands of qualified pilots applying with JetBlue currently." He declined to comment
on the quality of the training regimen.
JetBlue is working with lenders to provide financial assistance when needed for Gateway Select recruits,
said Warren Christie, senior vice president for safety, security and training. The training program's cost
covers lodging and food during certain phases.
"A lot of programs you pay for flight training, but there isn't a job offer at the end," he said.
Majoring in commercial aviation at the University of North Dakota, the largest public aviation program in
the U.S., can cost more than $150,000 for an out-of-state student when flight-training fees are included.
Winnowing Process
JetBlue, which says it doesn't have a pilot shortage, received 1,480 applications after the program was
announced late last year and narrowed down the group through assessments and tests before inviting 120
people for interviews. The carrier selected 24 who, divided into groups of six, all will be in training by next
year's third quarter.
Major U.S. carriers long have relied on hiring pilots who already have the required minimum of 1,500 flight
hours, typically amassed in military aircraft or by working as a civilian instructor before snagging a job at a
regional airline. At Gateway Select, training focuses on JetBlue's 100-seat Embraer SA E190 jets, although
the program could be extended to the larger Airbus Group SE planes in the carrier's fleet.
Gateway Select emphasizes working as part of a two-person cockpit crew. It also provides more time in
simulators than traditional training, to force students to contend with challenging situations such as bad
weather and mechanical failures. Each is assigned a JetBlue pilot as a mentor.
Next Round
The next round of recruiting is set for the middle of next year, and JetBlue expects to select 24 to 48
participants to begin training in January 2018.
"These six candidates are going to learn how to fly from the very beginning using the same training
philosophy and operating philosophy our current pilots use," Christie said. "What you learn first is what
you remember the longest. What they're learning today is what they're going to employ in four years as
JetBlue first officers."
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-03/from-clerk-to-cockpit-jetblue-s-raw-pilot-recruits-
move-forward
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Air Traffic Controllers And Pilots Can Now Communicate Electronically
Air traffic controllers at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., are using new technology
that lets them exchange digital messages with pilots.
Cliff Owen/AP
The control tower at a major metropolitan airport can be a pretty chatty place.
Some of the chatter comes from air traffic controllers literally and phonetically spelling out the routes
pilots need to follow to their destinations, using the foxtrot-lima-sierra-tango alphabet.
When a weather issue - say, a line of thunderstorms - pops up, routes have to be changed, often while the
plane is already on the taxiway. So the controllers spell out new directions to the pilots, the pilots take
them down and then carefully read back the instructions to the tower.
If To Err Is Human, Should Technology Help Us Shed Some Humanity?
If the pilot mishears the instructions - well, the process begins again.
All of this can take several minutes, delaying departures, burning fuel and emitting carbon.
But now technology is coming to the rescue. The Federal Aviation Administration's new system, called
Data Comm, lets traffic controllers and pilots exchange information electronically - still in the air-traffic
lingo, but displaying like text messages.
Data Comm technology gives air traffic controllers and pilots the ability to transmit flight plans, clearances,
instructions, advisories, flight crew requests and reports through a digital message service.
Brian Naylor/NPR
One carrier already using the new system is delivery company UPS. In the cockpit of a Boeing 767, UPS
pilot Capt. Gregg Kastman points to a screen near the center of the console. This is where he now receives
"a lot of the messaging we used to have to receive via voice" over the radio, he says. That includes route
clearance, route changes and frequency changes.
The Data Comm system "allows us to view the message, and reprogram our computers in seconds, which
used to take minutes to process," he says. And that difference of a few minutes, he adds, "is tremendously
important."
Imagine inclement weather moving in on a busy airport. Some 30 or 40 airplanes may be there waiting for
takeoff, needing new routing instructions, Kastman says: "A couple minutes multiplied by 40 aircraft can
easily lead to well over an hour in delays."
For a cargo company managing an intricate schedule of arriving and departing flights, coordinated also
with ground transportation, such delays can be a major headache.
For customers, a delay may mean the shoes you ordered don't arrive in time or an important replacement
part doesn't get delivered. For passengers, it could mean a missed connection.
FAA Assistant Administrator Jim Eck says passengers should notice a difference from the new technology.
Data Comm is intended "to make the whole system feel more stable and more predictable," he says, "so
there isn't a lot of time spent sitting in an airplane wondering what's going on, and when am I going to get
off."
The Data Comm system - part of the FAA's Next Gen program to modernize the nation's air traffic control
system - is already up and working at most of the major airports, for now with the exception of Chicago's
O'Hare. The $740 million upgrade is expected to be in service at more than 50 towers by year's end.
The FAA says all the major airlines have signed on; eight U.S. passenger and cargo airlines have added or
are currently adding the system.
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/10/03/496393787/air-traffic-controllers-and-pilots-
can-now-communicate-electronically
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Egyptian Who Hijacked Jet Is Ordered Deported From Cyprus
EgyptAir Flight 181, which was hijacked in March, at Larnaca airport in Cyprus. Credit Petros
Karadjias/Associated Press
A court in Cyprus ordered on Friday the deportation of an Egyptian man accused of hijacking a passenger
jet, forcing it to divert to Cyprus and demanding to see his former wife, who lives there.
Judge Dona Constantinou of the Nicosia District Court ruled that the man accused of the hijacking, Seif
Eldin Mustafa, 59, should be returned to Egypt, despite his claim that he might be tortured or even killed if
he was sent back.
In rejecting his claims, the judge found that he "never suggested political motives for his actions" in
March, and that he had no record of participating in protests or of facing charges relating to his political
beliefs.
Dina el-Fouly, a spokeswoman for EgyptAir, laughed when told of the ruling. "We haven't been told
anything yet, but this is good news," she said.
The hijacking was perhaps the most bizarre in a series of mishaps and tragedies that have plagued
Egyptian aviation and devastated tourism in the country.
The terrorist bombing of a Russian charter flight over the Sinai Peninsula last October killed all 224 people
on board, and the crash of an EgyptAir jetliner in May in the Mediterranean Sea, which killed the 66 people
on board, remains under investigation.
Seif Eldin Mustafa after leaving court in March. Credit Petros Karadjias/Associated Press
Mr. Mustafa was no terrorist, according to the authorities, but an ordinary criminal: Imprisoned on multiple
charges of forgery and fraud, he was among hundreds of inmates who escaped in 2011 during the 18-day
uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.
He surrendered to the police in 2014 and was released the next year. The police then sought to question
him in connection with other crimes, and he was considered to be on the run at the time of the hijacking.
Mr. Mustafa commandeered EgyptAir Flight 181, with more than 60 people on board, after it departed
Alexandria, bound for Cairo, on the morning of March 29.
He told the crew that he was wearing an explosive belt and threatened to blow up the plane unless the
pilot landed in Cyprus, Greece or Turkey.
As the plane landed in Larnaca, on the southern coast of Cyprus, Mr. Mustafa made a series of incoherent
demands, calling for the release of female prisoners by Egypt's military government and for the delivery of
a letter to his former wife, who lives with their three children.
The former wife, Marina Paraschos, went to the airport and helped officials persuade him to surrender. She
later told reporters that her husband had been abusive and that they had scarcely been in touch since the
end of their marriage, which lasted from 1985 to 1990.
Mr. Mustafa, who lived in Cyprus until 1994, had been deported to Egypt three times on charges of
harassing Ms. Paraschos, Cypriot officials said, entering the country with a fake passport at least once.
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He had resisted extradition after he was detained in the hijacking, saying he feared prosecution and abuse
by the Egyptian authorities.
The judge dismissed those claims, finding that there was no suggestion of a political motive. She also
noted that the hijacking charges in Egypt do not carry the death penalty, which is forbidden in Cyprus;
that he applied for political asylum in Cyprus only after the Egyptian authorities had requested his
extradition; and that he holds a valid Egyptian passport.
"The judge said it was an oxymoron for him to say that he would be tortured and his rights violated if he is
sent back to Egypt, when he had a valid passport and was free to enter and leave Egypt as he pleased"
before the hijacking, Marianna Tsangari, a Cypriot state lawyer involved in the case, said in a phone
interview on Friday.
"Basically, his claims didn't stand," Ms. Tsangari said. "There was no evidence to support his claims that he
faces the risk of torture in Egypt nor that he faces persecution for his political beliefs."
Mr. Mustafa seemed calm in court, holding his forehead in his hand and bending over to listen to the
translation of the proceedings provided by an interpreter, Ms. Tsangari said.
Eleni Loizidou, the main lawyer in the case, said in a phone interview that the judge's ruling was in
keeping with a decision by the Cypriot government to deny Mr. Mustafa's request for asylum.
In that proceeding, the government also noted that Mr. Mustafa could have left Egypt, using his passport,
at any time before the hijacking, if he was legitimately fleeing persecution.
The judge ordered that Mr. Mustafa be extradited within 10 days; his defense lawyer, Robertos Vrahimis,
indicated that his client planned to file an appeal during that period.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/01/world/europe/seif-eldin-mustafa-egyptair.html?_r=0
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Cessna Delivers 5,000th Light Business Jet
Cessna Aircraft has delivered its 5,000th light business jet, a Citation M2 that was handed over last week
to Helitrip Charter, which is leasing the aircraft to UK aircraft charter firm Catreus, the company
announced today. In June, the Wichita-based aircraft manufacturer shipped the 7,000th Citation, a line of
jets that spans light to super-midsize.
Kriya Shortt, senior vice president of sales and marketing at parent Textron Aviation, said the company
"transformed" the light jet segment. Cessna entered the light jet segment in 1972 when it delivered the
first Citation 500. The company's current lineup of light jets consists of the Citation Mustang, M2, CJ3+
and CJ4.
Catreus manages and operates a mixed fleet of aircraft, among them the Citation Mustang, M2, Bravo,
Excel, XLS and XLS+. This latest delivery adds a second M2 to the company's fleet, which flies 3,000
charter hours a year, Cessna said. Catreus recently received approval to operate the M2 at London City; it
already has identical approvals for the remainder of its aircraft types.
http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2016-10-03/cessna-delivers-5000th-light-
business-jet
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Massive Airplane Engine to be given to MTSU by Southwest Airlines
The MTSU Aerospace department has received quite the gift from Southwest Airlines... An airplane engine.
The unveiling of the massive engine will be done at 10:00, Tuesday morning (October 4, 2016).
The engine will be at the MTSU Flight Operations Center maintenance hangar at the Murfreesboro Airport
(1940 Memorial Blvd., Murfreesboro TN).
As for the engine, it is a CFM International "CFM56" engine that is used on aircraft. The engine will be used
in Murfreesboro to teach maintenance management students about modern, high-bypass turbofan engines
that are part of commercial transportation.
CFM International made the engine that has a thrust range of 18,500 to 34,000 pounds of force. Since
1974 when they were introduced, more than 30,000 have been produced. The 2016 cost is $1 million per
engine. Its dry weight is more than 5,200 pounds.
http://wgnsradio.com/massive-airplane-engine-to-be-given-to-mtsu-by-southwest-airlines--cms-35320
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CHINA PLANS A SPACE PLANE FOR TOURISTS
NO BOOSTERS INCLUDED
Space Plane Concept
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
Go high enough in the atmosphere, and eventually you'll reach space. That is assuming a vehicle can,
somehow, carry itself there--as the atmosphere thins, traditional flight becomes difficult and then
impossible. Getting to space takes a rocket, sometimes carried by an airplane, like Virgin Galactic's
SpaceShipTwo, which blasts off from the underbelly of its White Knight Two transport--or it takes a rocket
launch from a platform on the ground. A state-backed firm in China wants to get rid of all the extra parts,
instead completing the entire process with one rocket-powered spaceplane that takes off like a rocket, and
returns to earth like a shuttle.
New Scientist reports:
"The vehicle will take off vertically like a rocket and land on the runway automatically without any ground
or on-board intervention," [China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology team leader Han Pengxin] says.
It will burn liquid methane and liquid oxygen. Han's team has designed two versions of their rocket plane.
The first has a mass of 10 tonnes and a wingspan of 6 metres. This one, he says, should be able to fly five
people to an altitude of 100 kilometres - where space officially begins - at speeds up to Mach 6, giving 2
minutes of weightlessness. But a scaled up 100-tonne version, with a 12-metre wingspan, could fly 20
people to 130 kilometres at Mach 8, giving 4 minutes of weightlessness. That larger spacecraft is fast
enough to help deliver small satellites into orbit, with the help of a small rocket stage add-on that would
sit on top of the vehicle. And that payload-carrying capability will reduce tourist ticket prices, says Han.
They also intend to make it reusable, so each plane should be good for up to 50 flights.
The flights will, according to Han, cost around $200,000 to $250,000, a price point roughly identical to
Virgin Galactic's similar space tourism offering, with about the same time in space.
Instead of catching a ride into the upper atmosphere like SpaceShipTwo, its predecessor SpaceShipOne, or
NASA's X-15 rocket place, China's space plane as intended will launch vertically from the ground, like the
retired Space Shuttle and Buran, its Soviet clone. Two other spaceplanes, the Air Force's mysterious
unmanned X-37B robot and the unmanned version of Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser both are
designed to ride to space on the top of rockets, jettisoning the booster stages as they clear gravity.
(Incidentally, the United Nations recently selected Dream Chaser for its first ever space mission, designed
to open space infrastructure up to countries that lack their own space programs.)
Unlike the Shuttle or the X037B, the smaller version of China's space plane will carry all its fuel internally,
and the concept seems to lack booster rockets. The larger space plane will use a single booster add-on,
carrying it farther into space.
The most successful spaceplane currently flying is a military robot. In the more than a decade since
SpaceShipOne cleared the atmosphere, its Virgin Galactic successor program has yet to carry any paying
customers, and that's without the hurdle of starting from vertical launch. NASA's space shuttles operated
for three decades before retirement, using boosters for every launch. A new program that promises to
carry itself to space with the fuel contained in a single body, and promises to do it by the end of the
decade, is a neat idea, but one that is at best deeply optimistic and unproven.
http://www.popsci.com/china-plans-space-plane-for-tourists
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Dream Chaser: The Spacecraft That Will Transform Humanity's Access to Space
The United Nations is set to launch a revolutionary global space program
A Model of the Dream Chaser space shuttle on display at the IAC in Guadalajara, Mexico
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO-The UN has commenced a remarkable initiative that will enable developing
nations to have access to space. To do so, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs has partnered
with private space firm Sierra Nevada Corporation to utilize the company's unique Dream Chaser vehicle
for affordable unmanned scientific missions to low-Earth orbit that will begin in 2021.
According to the announcement made at the International Astronautical Congress, these missions will
promote the peaceful use of outer space and foster collaboration between nations without space programs.
To learn about the Dream Chaser's development and the possibilities that will emerge because of the UN's
partnership with SNC, the Observer sat down with, Mark Sirangelo, the Colorado-based company's Vice
President and the pioneer behind this groundbreaking project.
What is Dream Chaser and why is it such a special spacecraft?
Dream Chaser is essentially the next version of the Space Shuttle and we started developing it about 10
years ago while the Shuttle was still flying. We realized at some point that program would stop and
wondered what would be next or what would become Space Shuttle 2.0.
The Shuttle was a big moving van. If you were moving from New York to Los Angeles you would need a
big van with a small cab up front and a large cargo area in the back. Similarly, the Space Shuttle was used
to build the infrastructure in space, mainly the International Space Station. Now that it's built, you don't
really need a moving van. You probably want a good SUV to get you around.
So we set out to build what we call a Space Utility Vehicle that would be convertible to do many different
things like taking up cargo to keep the space station running, and taking up several passengers. It's about
having something that's much less expensive, reusable like the shuttle, and can be multiple vehicles in
one.
We started development of the Dream Chaser in 2005 and for the first five years we did it on our own. We
then began getting the attention of NASA who would partner with us. After losing five different contracts,
we eventually won a long-term contract to be NASA's spacecraft that will deliver supplies to the
International Space Station.
It's a pretty cool vehicle in a lot of ways. It's a green vehicle in the sense that it doesn't have any
hazardous materials on board. We can actually land at airports around the world. We can land anywhere a
737 can land. In fact, there are at least a dozen different airports looking at getting qualified to be a
landing airports for space.
What is the process to become qualified?
They have to go through the FAA, it's like qualifying to be an airport. Interesting enough, two have gone
through most of the process. One is in Houston, Texas and the other is in Huntsville, Alabama-a
commercial airport. We realized that we've got something special because we're the only vehicle that can
do this.
That's when we began looking beyond NASA to see what else we could do with the Dream Chaser. We
asked ourselves, what can we do for business? And what can we do for the good of humanity? So we
started looking at ways for providing the vehicle.
NASA or the US Government does not own the vehicle, so we can do other things with it. We could
contract it out to other countries who would like to have a space program, other space agencies,
companies that may want to do manufacturing in space. So one of the ideas we came up with to show how
Dream Chaser could do good for the world was our new partnership with the United Nations Office for
Outer Space Affairs.
SNC Vice President Mark Sirangelo and UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo announce the new space
program at the IAC.
What sparked this new relationship between the UN and Sierra Nevada Corporation?
I met the very progressive leader of UNOOSA, Simonetta Di Pippo, and we sat down to discuss an idea. It
was pretty simple: Dream Chaser can be a floating laboratory in low-Earth orbit, so why don't we offer it
to countries that don't have access to space?
Dream Chaser is about the size of a 50-75 passenger regional Jet and with that space we could have about
25-30 laboratory slots. We proposed that UNOOSA could act as the organizer of this and create an
opportunity for countries who don't have a space program to get access to a laboratory aboard the vehicle.
We thought it would take years for the UN to approve the program but it took only six months. It's moved
rapidly because of the positive mission and it's something to show the world is moving forward. This was
also a way to create some excitement about space exploration.
An opportunity like this for a country that's never had access to space could be the biggest thing that
country does for that year. Some young man or woman who lives in that nation, could be inspired by this.
This program could promote the peaceful use of space and could also benefit a lot of young people around
the world who could potentially have their experiments flown to space on Dream Chaser.
What would be the process for a developing nation to fly a mission on Dream Chaser?
The UN would put together a high-level scientific panel that could review applications from different
nations. Sierra Nevada would give them a set of parameters for what can actually be done in space aboard
the Dream Chaser. Nations would come to us with what they would like to do. The idea is to open the
program to the global community and we hope it will be successful.
We are targeting 2021 for the first mission, 5 years from now. It sounds like a long time but for the space
industry but it's not. Dream Chaser is already built so we don't have to spend money to get it in operation
for this program. We just have to adjust it to house the laboratory. Remember, it won't go to the
International Space Station, it will remain in orbit as a floating lab.
What other ways could a nation benefit from utilizing this program?
When people send experiments to space, they don't usually come home. Just the data does. And that's
because there isn't a vehicle with the ability to do that. Dream Chaser would come home with the scientific
hardware it takes up. This means that countries that invest in their experiments would be able to retrieve
it and be able to update or fix it and we can fly it again. It's a very unique concept. Plus, landing anywhere
in the world could be a big deal for a developing nation-to have scientific experiments from space land in
your home country.
Robin Seemangal focuses on NASA and advocacy for space exploration. He was born and raised in
Brooklyn, where he currently resides. Find him on Instagram for more space-related content:
@nova_road.
http://observer.com/2016/10/dream-chaser-the-spacecraft-that-will-transform-humanitys-access-to-
space/
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GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY
Dear Airline colleagues,
I would be very grateful if airline staff among you accept this invite to complete my short online survey on
"exploring the influence of emotionally intelligent leadership on airline safety culture".
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EI-INTEL
The survey is an element of my final project which explores how safety leadership who utilize or exhibit
emotional intelligence leadership qualities can influence the organisations safety culture. Safety leadership
in this context is taken as all management and supervisory staff who act as, or should act as safety
leaders in their teams. I am researching to see if the leadership qualities of each individual safety leader
can impact safety culture. Emotional intelligence markers are embedded in 10 of the survey questions.
The survey contains an introduction and explanatory page, followed by 14 questions and should only take
8 to 10 minutes. If you would like to make any comments on the project, or have any questions, please
contact me at Patrick.Morris.1@city.ac.uk.
Thank you in advance and best regards.
Pat Morris.
MSc Student, City University of London.
Curt Lewis